During the PSF Country review of Romania, expert panel provided policy recommendations for the implementation of R&I policies that aim at fostering the development of the R&I ecosystem. This article offers an overview of the exercise and showcases the main outputs.
Aware of the challenges facing its R&I system, the Romanian Government turned to the Horizon Policy Support Facility (PSF) for an independent review of the country’s R&I system. The expert panel prepared a set of 10 key policy messages, each of them supported by detailed recommendations. Among them:
- the need for the Government to have a clearer vision of the role of R&I in Romania’s development;
- the fragmentation of the public organisations involved in R&I;
- the serious lack of policy-relevant evidence to guide R&I policymaking;
- the insufficient and unpredictable funding of the R&I system; the unbalanced policy mix for R&I in terms of funding and the inefficient management practices in the public sector.
However, the panel also highlighted Romania’s strong commitment to making its R&I system more efficient. The Government also pledged to provide fresh R&I investments and promote much-needed reforms for the system to develop to its full potential.